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Forever Young  a tribute to Peter.

..Forever Young – a tribute to Peter.

It's sometimes hard for me to wrap my head around the fact that Peter Gade will not be playing competitive badminton before this year is over. It feels like he's always been there, in almost every tournament I've watched, every year I remember.

And yet, the sands are running out.

Ever since the All England this year, it’s beginning to feel like a long farewell tour. Every time he steps on court, I want to stand up and applaud this man. I want to let him know how grateful I am for what he has brought to this game: true grit; style and substance; compassion; and integrity.

I want to tell him that I admire him for the way he's used his star power and status to bring a ray of hope to so many underprivileged children in many corners of the world. I want to show him how much I respect him.

But I’ve never met him, or even seen him in person. If I did, what would I do? I’d probably go into a shell, forget everything I ever wanted to say, stammer and shake. I’d be flying too close to the sun.

So, like the recluse-in-denial that I become when something I love is taken away from me, I will retreat into my shell.

May you always be courageousStand upright and be strong

But that is not how Peter would do it. He’d fight back with all he’s got, and then some, to reclaim what he loves. It’s what makes for champions. And Peter loves the game. It’s what has kept him young.

May your hands always be busy
May your feet always be swift
Peter’s sharp, astute mind was evident to all even when he first started playing as a boy; it only got sharper and clearer from then on. Allied to his huge spirit and absolutely dedicated work ethic, it was no surprise he rose to the top of the heap very soon.

May you have a strong foundation
When the winds of changes shiftI have witnessed a procession of champions and legends announce themselves, show their brilliance, and then fade into the night. Peter has endured. And the longer he endured, the more I took his presence among the best of the best for granted. Maybe it’s just my fault that I feel betrayed by his wanting to leave. After all, he’s not even 40 years, yet.

At the peak of his powers, at the pinnacle of his youth, he was being constantly challenged by the other best players in the world. At the waning, he constantly challenged the best players in the world.

Through it all, he never asked nor gave quarter. He humbled; but never humiliated. He lost, but never conceded.

He gave credit where it was due, and left others to indulge in pettiness. And he achieved all this with the genuine grace and graciousness of a man who has evolved and only refined his sense of inner balance. Peter adopted a well-defined set of values, and he lived his life on court without ever once sacrificing those core values. That itself, I thought, set him apart from almost all others I admired.

Yes, I suppose he will make a great ambassador for the game. He may become a great coach. He is certainly a loving husband and father from all that we know of the man. I cannot help but feel that whatever he chooses going forward, he will approach it with the same passion and commitment that he gave for the game he so loves.

Some people take up a line of work with a passion, and as the years go by, they lose some of their boyish, youthful enthusiasm for it. Some people reach that point where they just want to take their foot off the gas pedal, and allow someone else to drive, or just allow things to take their own course. Others lose their passion, or lose their way.

May your heart always be joyful
May your song always be sung
And may you stay forever young
There are a handful of people who maintain their passion for life and excellence like a religion; only, it’s never a burden, it becomes a celebration. Their energy is infectious. Their joy is illuminating.

Peter is one such exceptional human being. He is living proof that age, like youth, is all a matter of mind.

Forever young, forever young
May you stay forever young
For all that, Peter, thank you.

Yes a true Legend. His greatest strength is his ability to adapt, to the new point system, injuries and use his experience to fill the void where his body doesnt move at quite the same speed it used to. I still love the AE game in 2011 where he was playing Nyguen and was literally on his knees breathing heavily but still came through to win. Such a highly technical and fluid style a joy to watch.

It's sometimes hard for me to wrap my head around the fact that Peter Gade will not be playing competitive badminton before this year is over. It feels like he's always been there, in almost every tournament I've watched, every year I remember.

And yet, the sands are running out.

Ever since the All England this year, it’s beginning to feel like a long farewell tour. Every time he steps on court, I want to stand up and applaud this man. I want to let him know how grateful I am for what he has brought to this game: true grit; style and substance; compassion; and integrity.

I want to tell him that I admire him for the way he's used his star power and status to bring a ray of hope to so many underprivileged children in many corners of the world. I want to show him how much I respect him.

But I’ve never met him, or even seen him in person. If I did, what would I do? I’d probably go into a shell, forget everything I ever wanted to say, stammer and shake. I’d be flying too close to the sun.

So, like the recluse-in-denial that I become when something I love is taken away from me, I will retreat into my shell.

May you always be courageousStand upright and be strong

But that is not how Peter would do it. He’d fight back with all he’s got, and then some, to reclaim what he loves. It’s what makes for champions. And Peter loves the game. It’s what has kept him young.

May your hands always be busy
May your feet always be swift
Peter’s sharp, astute mind was evident to all even when he first started playing as a boy; it only got sharper and clearer from then on. Allied to his huge spirit and absolutely dedicated work ethic, it was no surprise he rose to the top of the heap very soon.

May you have a strong foundation
When the winds of changes shiftI have witnessed a procession of champions and legends announce themselves, show their brilliance, and then fade into the night. Peter has endured. And the longer he endured, the more I took his presence among the best of the best for granted. Maybe it’s just my fault that I feel betrayed by his wanting to leave. After all, he’s not even 40 years, yet.

At the peak of his powers, at the pinnacle of his youth, he was being constantly challenged by the other best players in the world. At the waning, he constantly challenged the best players in the world.

Through it all, he never asked nor gave quarter. He humbled; but never humiliated. He lost, but never conceded.

He gave credit where it was due, and left others to indulge in pettiness. And he achieved all this with the genuine grace and graciousness of a man who has evolved and only refined his sense of inner balance. Peter adopted a well-defined set of values, and he lived his life on court without ever once sacrificing those core values. That itself, I thought, set him apart from almost all others I admired.

Yes, I suppose he will make a great ambassador for the game. He may become a great coach. He is certainly a loving husband and father from all that we know of the man. I cannot help but feel that whatever he chooses going forward, he will approach it with the same passion and commitment that he gave for the game he so loves.

Some people take up a line of work with a passion, and as the years go by, they lose some of their boyish, youthful enthusiasm for it. Some people reach that point where they just want to take their foot off the gas pedal, and allow someone else to drive, or just allow things to take their own course. Others lose their passion, or lose their way.

May your heart always be joyful
May your song always be sung
And may you stay forever young
There are a handful of people who maintain their passion for life and excellence like a religion; only, it’s never a burden, it becomes a celebration. Their energy is infectious. Their joy is illuminating.

Peter is one such exceptional human being. He is living proof that age, like youth, is all a matter of mind.

Forever young, forever young
May you stay forever young
For all that, Peter, thank you.

For all that, Peter, I will miss you dearly.

A beautifully written piece. How about submitting this article to badzine and other websites?